Four city residents were charged Thursday afternoon after a traffic stop allegedly uncovered narcotics.
At about 4:40 p.m., Jamestown Police observed a vehicle in the area of 79 Barker St. allegedly operating with illegally tinted windows. When the vehicle was stopped and the investigating officer approached, he allegedly noticed the smell of burning marijuana.
The vehicle's four occupants were asked to exit the vehicle so a search could be safely conducted. The front passenger, 25-year-old Abner Cintron-Melendez, exited the vehicle and allegedly advised officers that he had a small quantity of marijuana in his pocket.
The rear driver's side passenger, 19-year-old Juan A. Tufino, exited the vehicle and allegedly began to flee from officers. He was apprehended after a short chase.
When the search of the car was conducted, officers allegedly located a quantity of crack cocaine. The operator, 33-year-old Jose M. Lebron-Rivera, and all three passengers - Tufino, Cintron-Melendez and 34-year-old Jesus Rodriguez-Marrero - were each charged with third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance. Tufino was additionally charged with obstruction of government administration, and Cintron-Melendez was additionally charged with possession of marijuana. The vehicle's operator, Lebron-Rivera, was issued a traffic summons for illegally tinted windows.
The subjects were all taken to City Jail pending arraignment.